Analysis: I know there will be instant criticism with Wilson being #1, but still feel strongly that Wilson is capable of being a "franchise" quarterback and such a designation is worth the top spot. The remainder of the top ten is loaded with linemen outside of Minter and Milliner. Sheldon Richardson is an impressive athlete and his non-stop motor should attract teams to select him within the Top 10. Jonathan Cooper will be selected in the bottom half of round one, but if you eliminate positional value, he's easily one of the top dozen players. Zach Ertz will be an instant asset to an offense and his blend of size and athleticism makes him a threat all over the field. Jonathan Cyprien possesses first round skills from the safety position, right on the heels of Vaccaro, but I think some still get caught up with him playing at FIU. Datone Jones has impressed me as much as anyone during my off-season work, and I fully expect him to be selected towards the end of day one or immediately at the start of day two. Overall, I have listed my Top 32, but the players worthy of being selected in round one is a far greater list.

Wilson is a 1st round grade imo so I like the variety.. Robert Woods is a better overall reciever than Tavon, Woods can be a #1.

Woods has the ability to be a solid #2 receiver for whichever team drafts him but I'm not seeing #1 ability. Tavon Austin is a unique player, and he'll be a weapon out of the slot and backfield; not a "#1" receiver but can be the focal point of an offense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nastradamus

I"m pretty baffled by this list. Wilson is the obvious one, but Minter,Poyer,Cyprien and Escobar,Montgomery,Lacey,Austin and D.Jones are all too high for my tastes. No Mingo? No Eifert or Patterson?

I'd put Geno at least in the top 32, but I'm not going to fight that one too much.

Minter is the most well-rounded inside backer in the entire draft and he was the best player on the Tigers' defense this past season, but others still drew more of the spotlight and discussion than he did. Jordan Poyer was a playmaker all season for the Beavers and Senior Bowl week gave him the stage to flash his abilities and he didn't disappoint. Jonathan Cyprien could very well be the #1 safety prospect in this entire draft when all is said and done, and he will be a versatile safety wherever he lands. Gavin Escobar's season is a bit misleading because he battled with injuries, but I fully expect him and Travis Kelce to move up draft boards given their size and receiving ability. I just get a better feel from him than I do Tyler Eifert. Sam Montgomery is an all-around good defensive end, who had a few struggles this past season, but still showed more to me than Mingo did and his tape last year is impressive. Eddie Lacy is a physical back who is capable of playing all three downs, and he shined brightest against the harder defenses Alabama faced to end the year. Datone Jones did draw much publicity this past season, but he did very well for the Bruins and that play translated to Senior Bowl week where he continually stood out; possesses nice size and I like what I see from him being able to get around the edge.

Barkevious Mingo is an incredible athlete, but he's not a great football player. He's not a factor against the run and he lacks the physicality to be anything more than a guy who relies on his speed to disrupt a backfield. Dion Jordan draws comparisons to Aaron Maybin by some posters but I would argue that Mingo is the one who deserves such comparisons. Tyler Eifert has all the tools to be a good tight end in the NFL, but any time I watched Notre Dame this year I came away underwhelmed by his play. Patterson, and I stated this with my receiver rankings, reminds me more of a Devin Hester type receiver than a guy who's going to be a Pro Bowl caliber player. He is a dynamic player no doubt, but most of the high point for him came in the return game, not as a receiver.

Maybe I'm making a bad comparison, but I'm just a wee-bit concerned that Eddy Lacy isn't fast enough to play in the NFL (a la Ron Dayne).

I think it's interesting that you have Ertz and not Eifert. I see them as virtually identical in terms of talent level.

You had a typo with Jarvis Jones' school (Georgia).

I like that you have Cyprien. If he runs fast enough, he'd be in my top 15. I know a lot of people will think this is based on the Senior Bowl, but I didn't even watch it. I watched his FIU games. Kid was a borderline play maker at FIU.

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I was gone for 2 months doing things I can't talk about. It might happen again, but that's just the nature of what I do and who I am.

Lacy is not really built like Dayne. He's more muscle. And his legs drive through tackles and piles violently and explosively.

And Dayne was a good NFL player until he stopped working on his weight.

Yeah, the Lacy -- Dayne comparison doesn't make sense too me either. Dayne was obviously special during his time at Wisconsin, but the mileage and physique he brought to the NFL wasn't going to past long. Lacy is built like a bull.

The guy was supposed to be the thunder to Tiki's lightning but... he wanted to be the lightning. If you watch him back at Wisc. you see he wasn't an overpowering back he just had very good vision, a great o-line, and some good wiggle for a big guy.

When he got to the NFL he couldn't do it because the guys were bigger, faster, and stronger. He was too slow to play how he was comfortable playing and too soft to be a successful powerback.

When I watch Lacy I see someone who hits the holes hard and isn't afraid of contact. I don't see Dayne at all.

Lol Lacy can run in the 4.5 range. Arian Foster ran a 4.69 at his pro day so I think Lacy will be just ok.

What does Arian Foster's 40 time have to do with anything?

I don't think you draft Eddie Lacy to be your feature back. And if I'm drafting, or giving a running back a first round grade, he's got to have feature back capabilities. I don't think Lacy is a playmaker. He is a physical runner with great leg driver, but he runs higher than most people realize. He also leaves his feet quite frequently.

Playing behind the offensive line he played behind also makes it difficult to scout him because he's going to look more powerful than he is when he's running downhill full speed because he's running through gapping holes untouched. Running over a safety is impressive, but the Alabama offense allows him to do more of that than most other running backs get the chance. I think he's more of a third round talent. A rotational back that could carry the load for a season or two, but I don't think he'd be a great success as a feature running back. Good strength and power, very good vision with a solid burst through the hole. He doesn't usually go down on first contact and has a good spin move, but long speed seems only average and he seems very mediocre in space. More of a one dimensional runner as well that offers next to nothing as a receiver.

I think he'll be a good solid player, but I don't expect Lacy to be a major name in the NFL. Not much special about him.

Sheldon Richardson is quickly becoming my favorite player in this draft. His motor is as good as I have ever seen from a defensive linemen. He's surpassed Werner in my eyes for my top ranked defensive linemen in this draft. Werner's lack of power and average motor are bigger concerns than I thought. I can see why he's supposedly slipping.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Wright

I honestly believe Reggie Bush has turned into exactly the type of player I envisioned.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PossibleCabbage

I would like it if there were more successful black Quarterbacks in the NFL...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

iamcandian lives in a cabin in the Yukon Territory and writes letters to railroad barons about the price of hard tack.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GatorsBullsFan

I could possibly see Matthew Stafford Dropping out of the 1st round

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoRavens

Tahj Boyd has the best fundamentals of any QB in this class, I think his game translates great to the NFL.

I don't think you draft Eddie Lacy to be your feature back. And if I'm drafting, or giving a running back a first round grade, he's got to have feature back capabilities. I don't think Lacy is a playmaker. He is a physical runner with great leg driver, but he runs higher than most people realize. He also leaves his feet quite frequently.

Playing behind the offensive line he played behind also makes it difficult to scout him because he's going to look more powerful than he is when he's running downhill full speed because he's running through gapping holes untouched. Running over a safety is impressive, but the Alabama offense allows him to do more of that than most other running backs get the chance. I think he's more of a third round talent. A rotational back that could carry the load for a season or two, but I don't think he'd be a great success as a feature running back. Good strength and power, very good vision with a solid burst through the hole. He doesn't usually go down on first contact and has a good spin move, but long speed seems only average and he seems very mediocre in space. More of a one dimensional runner as well that offers next to nothing as a receiver.

I think he'll be a good solid player, but I don't expect Lacy to be a major name in the NFL. Not much special about him.

Sheldon Richardson is quickly becoming my favorite player in this draft. His motor is as good as I have ever seen from a defensive linemen. He's surpassed Werner in my eyes for my top ranked defensive linemen in this draft. Werner's lack of power and average motor are bigger concerns than I thought. I can see why he's supposedly slipping.

It's called a comparison.... ever heard of those? Foster got drafted without having that blazing speed so I think Lacy can make it in this league just fine.

You're not comparing, you're just pulling **** out of your ass and calling it a comparison because its convenient for you. You're either lazy or too stupid to say anything else that would make any sense.

You start this atrocious response by openly saying you're comparing two players who have next to nothing in common. And then you say Foster got drafted, which he actually didn't, without having blazing speed. And, I guess, because Foster is a borderline great RB in the NFL who averages about 2,000 yards from scrimmage and double digit TDs every year, then Lacy will... also do that because they're both slow?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Wright

I honestly believe Reggie Bush has turned into exactly the type of player I envisioned.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PossibleCabbage

I would like it if there were more successful black Quarterbacks in the NFL...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

iamcandian lives in a cabin in the Yukon Territory and writes letters to railroad barons about the price of hard tack.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GatorsBullsFan

I could possibly see Matthew Stafford Dropping out of the 1st round

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoRavens

Tahj Boyd has the best fundamentals of any QB in this class, I think his game translates great to the NFL.

TL to read. Too lazy to care. Glad you understand comparisons though. Simple mistake about Foster. And no Lacy won't be the next Foster but I do think he has a place in this league. Honestly some of you people get so riled up over a message board and it's priceless so thanks for the entertainment. I needed that.

It's not like Joeckel is "worse" than Fisher because they are very close as prospects. When you have a prospect like Fisher, who impresses against weaker competition, it is somewhat difficult to gauge how high they should be rated. The Senior Bowl provided the platform for Fisher to show his exceptional abilities as a left tackle and he possesses all the traits to be outstanding. Joeckel possesses those same traits, but after being able to see Fisher perform individually in Mobile he took the top spot over.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thetedginnshow

Was Cyprien that high on your board before the Senior Bowl?

I love Poyer, but that seems awfully high.

Still not sure why people love Ogletree so much, but I'll have to go back and check him out some more.

Cyprien was not that high on my board prior to the Senior Bowl, but much like the situation with Fisher, you don't necessarily know how good those players are until they get matched up with the BCS school players in a venue like Mobile, and when they shine all week like those two did, then the tape they put together was certainly not a fluke and they can undoubtedly play with the big boys.

I've been a fan of Poyer all season, and he never disappointed. He can play man or zone and simply has a knack for making a play on the ball.

Ogletree is a unique athlete for the linebacker position and his coverage skills are very good. He lacks some of the toughness/strength for the position but I attribute that to inexperience at the position and he'll put on more muscle once he hits an NFL strength and conditioning routine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTPlaya21

Austin over Keenan Allen is interesting.

Tavon Austin is such a versatile and dynamic player, much like a Percy Harvin or Randall Cobb, that he's tough to put any lower on the list. He's proven his worth as a slot receiver, running back, and return man, and he's the type of player a defensive coordinator is forced to plan around.

True he definitely brings a lot more to the table compared to Keenan. As long as he stays out of the NFC East I'm cool with him going so highly. Also nice Alabama typo on that 29th ranked prospect of yours lol.

It's not like Joeckel is "worse" than Fisher because they are very close as prospects. When you have a prospect like Fisher, who impresses against weaker competition, it is somewhat difficult to gauge how high they should be rated. The Senior Bowl provided the platform for Fisher to show his exceptional abilities as a left tackle and he possesses all the traits to be outstanding. Joeckel possesses those same traits, but after being able to see Fisher perform individually in Mobile he took the top spot over.

fwiw Joekel reportedly dominated Demontre Moore in practices. And he shut down Monty in LSU game. Both are likely better prospects than any of the DE Fisher faced in Mobile.